St Jude’s Primary School
Newsletter
Prayer for Rain
God our Father,
You created the earth to nourish us and give us life.
Jesus Your son, has taught us to ask in his name for our daily needs.
Let your blessing come upon our land,
Bring gentle rain to make the crops grow.
May we use well your gifts that the poor may be fed
and the hungry filled with good things. Amen
Principal’s Message
Dear Parents and Carers
Positive Start to the School Year—I know we put lots of events on at the start of the school year but rest
assured we begin to back off from here on. Getting the school year off to a strong and positive start is
important and I thank the parent organisers from our Community Council (Chair: Nicky Bourke) for last
Fridays wonderfully relaxed family picnic. As well, the school asked for your attendance at last week’s
beginning of the school year Mass, the Parent Information Night on Tuesday and we are hoping you can
make a time to meet your child’s/ren’s teacher in the next two weeks. All of these activities set our school
year up and more importantly, your child/ren for the year.
Snake Sighting—It is that time of year again when snakes are on the move in the Bush Capital. We have had
two sightings at school in the last week so caution needs to be demonstrated by all who come onto the St
Jude’s site. The children have been spoken to, the rangers have been invited to make a presentation at a
whole school assembly (awaiting confirmation) which was very beneficial and educational last year. It can
only help if you as parents have a talk with your children about being safe when playing and that we should
be alert but not alarmed about encountering a snake on the playground or the backyard.
Buddy Classes for 2017—At the start of each school year we look to ‘pair up’ our older students with our
younger students. With our preschool starting three years ago the competition by our ‘older’ classes to
buddy with a ‘younger’ class is even more highly desired. Our buddy classes for this year are:
ELC Joeys
5L
ELC Wombats
5H
ELC Echidnas
4M
KL
6S
KT
6SC
KC
4O’B
1HB
3O’B
1L
3LR
School Drive Subsidy – NSW Students—If you live a long way from public transport and need to drive a
student to a public transport pick up point or to school, you may be able to get financial assistance. The
School Drive Subsidy provides eligible parents and guardians twice-yearly payment to help cover some of
the expenses of getting children to school if you live in NSW and your child/ren attend ACT schools. To find
out if you are eligible, and to apply online, visit transport.nsw.gov.au/schooldrive
Interviews—All parents are encouraged to make a time to meet with their child’s teacher in the next week
or so. Parents who attended Tuesday’s Parent Information Night began to make appointments. Timesheets
are available outside each classroom for parents to choose a time. These appointments are a valuable
opportunity for parents to share information/insights into their child that you believe is/are valuable details
for the teacher to know. It is not an opportunity for teachers to report on progress since school
commenced.
Term 1—Week 2
9 February 2017
Inside this issue:
Birthdays
2
School News
2
ELC News
2
RE News
3
Sports
4
Library
4
Mulleygrub Cafe
5
Mulleyduds Shop
6
Dates to remember:
∞ Tuesday 14 February,
Community Council meeting,
7.30pm
∞ Thursday 16 February, KT & 6SC
Class Mass, 9.30am
∞ Wednesday 22 February,
Swimming Carnival,
Queanbeyan Pool
∞ Thursday 23 February, KC & 4OB
class Mass, 9.30am
∞ Monday 27 February, ’The
Magic Words’ Visiting Performer
∞ Tuesday 28 February, Shrove
Tuesday
∞ Wednesday 1 March, Ash
Wednesday Mass, 12.15pm
∞ Tuesday 7 March, Mufti Day for
Fete
Uniform Shop
Mulleyduds will be open
Friday 10 February 2017
3pm to 3.30pm
Wishing you well
Peter Galvin
Principal
School Banking
Every Friday!
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St Jude’s Primary School Newsletter
School News
Happy Birthday to:
Christian R, Isaac B,
Morgan M, Ava M, Caitlin S, Aurora K,
Sudristee K, Owen B, Esther S,
Joseph G & Allegra J
Medical Requirements
A reminder to keep the front office updated with your child’s medical information. Please inform the front office if your child/ren need
medication during school hours.
School Fees
School fees will be emailed to all families at the end of week 2, unless otherwise requested. Please ensure the front office has your
correct email address.
Apps Download—A reminder to download:
Qkr! for various school payments, lunch orders and uniform orders;
Skoolbag to receive up to date news items from the school.
Extra Notes
If children lose a note between school and home, etc., then another note can be
downloaded from the school website. We endeavour to place all notes sent home on to our website.
Skoolbag
In addition to the weekly newsletter, the school uses the Skoolbag app to communicate alerts and messages to parents and carers.
Parents are invited to download the app from your relevant e-store (iTunes, Google Play, Windows Store) for installation on your
mobile device. Parents should also configure the app to ensure you receive alerts and messages relevant to the classes your children
are in. See https://skoolbag.com.au/forparents.php for instructions on downloading and configuring the app.
Families of former students who still happen to receive alerts, messages and emails from Skoolbag are invited to delete the app from
your mobile device, and if applicable, unsubscribe from the email messages.
ELC News
Happy Birthday to Eddie H
Thank you to those families who were able to attend the welcome BBQ and the parent information night. The preschool year is off to a
great start!
The ELC children are continuing to settle in and further develop a sense of belonging to a class, a preschool and the wider St Jude’s
community. The children have visited their year 5 and year 4 buddy classes and have met many staff members along the way. They are
connecting names to new faces and meeting new friends. It has been lovely to see many of the children are already growing in
confidence in their new learning environment.
After demonstrating an interest in ‘baking’ in the sand kitchen this week, all three classes have been busy doing some real baking. The
Wombats made zucchini slice, the Joeys baked muffins and the Echidnas made pikelets. Each of the classes have received a visit from
the fire fighters from the Phillip fire station who talked about fire safety and let the children explore the fire truck. Thank you for
coming.
Library—The children have all had the opportunity to discover new library books and have enjoyed the special responsibility of
borrowing a book. Remember to bring back your library bag and book (on Wednesdays for Joeys and Echidnas, Friday for Wombats) so
you can borrow a new book each week.
Community Council Meeting—The St Jude’s Community Council AGM will be held on Tuesday 14 February at 7:30pm in the school
library. ELC parents are very welcome.
Parent Sharing Meetings—will be held at the ELC in weeks 3 and 4. Please fill in the booking sheets at the ELC to book your timeslot.
Please be aware this is a time for parents to provide information about their children for the teacher.
ELC Fees – Fee statements for weeks 3 and 4 were sent out today. If you have not received your fee statement email, please let us
know as soon as possible.
Gabrielle Stitt
Acting Director
Page 3
6S and KL class Mass
Today 6S and KL celebrated Mass together with the parish community and Father
Brannelly. Thank you to Miss Sallechia and Mrs Lloyd for preparing the Mass and to
Anna B, Lachlan R and Angus C for altar serving. Next week 6SC and KT will have their class Mass. Parents
and carers are more than welcome to attend with their child/ren.
RE News
Sacraments for 2017
Last week a note was sent home to all students who will be making a sacrament this year. On this note
were details for how to register for the sacraments. A copy of this note is on our school website if you did
not receive one. Registrations need to be completed before 4 March.
Faith and Life Centre
The parish provides religious education classes for students from K-6 who attend non-Catholic schools. Classes are held at St. Jude’s
school on Thursdays during school terms from 6.30-7.30pm. Enquiries to Tim McNamara (6288 7876) or the parish office (6288 1979).
Please pass this on to any parents with children at non-Catholic schools that you may know.
The St Vincent De Paul Doorknock
This will run through February in the St John Vianney Conference suburbs. The St. Jude’s Conference will not conduct a door knock
but will have a stall at Cooleman Court instead. This is Vinnies most important fundraising effort for supporting local efforts to assist
those in need. If you can spare two hours of your time to join in this act of Christian charity please contact Vanessa Whelan
(0402 352 943) to help at Cooleman Court.
Dates to remember:
∞
6SC and KL class Mass: Thursday 16 February – 9.30am
∞
4OB and KC class Mass: Thursday 23 February – 9.30am
∞
Ash Wednesday Mass: Wednesday 1 March – 12.15pm St Jude’s Church
∞
Confirmation Adult Formation, Tuesday 14 March, St Jude’s PS
∞
Confirmation Family Formation, Tuesday 28 March, St Jude’s PS
∞
Sacrament of Confirmation, Wednesday 3 May, St John Vianney’s Church
∞
Sacrament of Confirmation, Thursday 4 May, St Jude’s Church
God bless
Susan Chant
Religious Education Coordinator
The Parish community wishes you all a happy and successful
school year.
Your names are in the churches, and you will always be in
our prayers.
Remember to let Jesus come with you as you get ready to
change the world!
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St Jude’s Primary School Newsletter
Sports News
Welcome to the Sports Section for 2017! We are straight into
the action this term with our school swimming carnival at the
Queanbeyan Aquatic Centre in Week 4 (22/2). The note for this
went home yesterday so please read it thoroughly and return
the appropriate page to school by 15 February. Please check
the school website under the 'Notes' section if you have not
received the swimming note.
The Weston Molonglo Football Club has opened their registrations for the 2017 soccer season. Many of you will be keen to
return for another season with your existing team, or in the
case of some, perhaps join up for your first season. For any
Kindergarten children who are interested in joining a team,
there are many St Jude's teams entered in the competition
each year. Prior to registration, talk to other parents at school
and look out for further information from your Parent Reps so
you can register your child with an established team in mind.
See ‘Notes’ on the web for registration details (and see if you
can pick the St Jude's faces in the photos! I could see at least six of you in there!)
Finally, the Canberra-Goulburn Catholic Primary Schools Soccer Carnival is to be held on Sunday 26 March from 8.30am – 3.30pm at the
University of Canberra. Children in Years 3-6 are eligible to participate. A note for this will be sent home next week so look out for it!
Thank you in advance for volunteering to help at the swimming carnival!
Nicole Gibson
Sports Coordinator
[email protected]
Library News
Library classes for 2017:
ELC—Echidnas / Joeys on Wednesday, Wombats on Friday
Tuesday—Kinder & Year 3 & Year 1HB
Wednesday—Years 5 & 6
Thursday—Year 2 & Year 4 & Year 1L
All children at the ELC have been to visit the Library now and borrowed books - just wonderful! If parents of children in Joeys & Echidnas
(or any other parents) would like their children to change their books more often they are very welcome to drop into the Library after
school to do so (Tuesday – Friday).
The value that the school is focussing on this week is “Acceptance and Inclusivity’.
Some good picture story books that reflect this are:
*Lifeline Book Fair is on at EPIC this weekend…
Happy reading!
Verna Comley
Librarian
Page 5
Mulleygrub Café Report
Week 2, 2017
COFFEE!!!
Coffee, hot chocolate, tea and chai lattes are available Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8.15am through to 1.45pm.
Pop in for a chat and purchase a roady!
Small $3.00 / Large $4.00
Add 50c for a vanilla, caramel or chocolate shot.
Tea
$2.00
SWIMMING CARNIVAL—Our swimming carnival is on 22 February. The Mulleygrub Café will be doing
a sausage sizzle meal deal on the day as a treat for our students. If anyone has the opportunity to help
out with the set-up, cooking the BBQ or bun cutting please let me know. It’s a fun day!
VOLUNTEERS—I am so grateful to the parents/carers that have volunteered their precious time or who have offered to
give it a try. Without you all, Mulleygrub Café could not operate to the standard that it does. Since starting at St Jude’s
I have introduced a lot of homemade options to weed out some of the preservatives and additives that are hidden in
readymade food which takes time and preparation. Some of our regular helpers have moved on now or are needing to
take a step back due to work commitments so maybe it’s your turn to lend a hand and become a regular volunteer.
Any amount of time is better than none, Thursdays and Fridays are especially busy so if you can, please come in and
have a go. Remember to apply for a Working with Vulnerable People card (WWVP). It’s free for volunteers!
LUNCH ORDERS—Mulleygrub Café have an app called QKR that can be installed onto your smart phone. This is a convenient way to order your child/children’s lunch as long as you confirm it BEFORE 8am on the day. Could parents/carers
please update their child/children’s class on QKR. The menu may have changed a little so please check the prices when
placing orders or checking their child’s order if they have written it out and added it up themselves ensuring there are
no mistakes with pricing or missing money for a paper bag. It may not sound like much however at the end of every
week it amounts to quite a lot.
MASTERCHEF—Thank you for the huge response back for our future Masterchef’s! I am currently filling up Term 2 and
have just received more! Keep them coming.
This week’s Masterchef is the “Fabulous Fox Family” and they are making “Chocolate Brownies”. The ingredients are:
vegetable oil, sugar, vanilla, eggs, baking powder, cocoa, salt and flour. They will be 50c each.
Warm regards
Canteen Kim
Canteen roster
Thursday 9 February
Friday 10 February
Suzanne G
Belinda Mc
Scott H
Brigid D
Help needed
Scott H
Wednesday 15 February
Wendy D
Help needed
Thursday 16 February
Help needed
Help needed
Help needed
Friday 17 February
Belinda Mc
Scott H
Help needed
Wednesday 22 February
Swimming Carnival
Scott H
Thursday 23 February
Friday 24 February
Scott H
Belinda Mc
Help needed
Suzanne G
Brigid D
Help needed
Help needed
Scott H
Wednesday 1 March
Thursday 2 March
Friday 3 March
Tania W
Help needed
Belinda Mc
Wendy D
Help needed
Scott H
Help needed
Help needed
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St Jude’s Primary School Newsletter
Mulleyduds—Uniform Shop
Mulleyduds will be OPEN between 3.00-3.30pm on the following Fridays:
February 10, 17 and 24
March 10 and 24
The shop is looking quite well stocked for the commencement of the year. Come in early and get your
supplies, especially jumpers which become a hot item as the weather cools.
There is plenty of second hand stock if you'd like to come and find a bargain.
Please be aware that we are only able to open if we have volunteers.
So if you think you could spare a half hour or so on a Friday afternoon after school, just once or twice a term,
please contact me and we will happily place you on our roster for a Friday that suits you.
Summer Uniform Details:
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday
Boys—Navy shorts, sky blue polo top, navy socks, black shoes, school hat, maroon polar fleece
Girls—Catholic schools summer dress, white socks, black shoes, school hat, maroon polar fleece
Optional for girls: Navy shorts, sky blue polo shirt, white socks, black shoes
Wednesday and Friday (Sports day)
Boys—Green shorts, gold/green sports top, white sport socks, sneakers, green polar fleece
Girls—Green skort or green shorts, gold/green sports top, white sports socks, sneakers, green polar fleece
Susana Lloyd
[email protected]
School Community Council
Well what a great evening it was at the St Jude’s welcome picnic, it was lovely to meet up with old friends and also
meet some of the new families.

AGM & Community Council Meeting – The next AGM and Community Council meeting will be held on
Tuesday 14 February 2017 at 7.30pm. Meetings are held in the Library and all are welcome. This first meeting
is our AGM, where the position of Vice Chair will be up for nomination. Please send your nominations via
email to Peter Galvin and myself at [email protected] and [email protected]. Susan
Rowell (Treasurer) and Lee Atkinson (Secretary) are one year into a two year term, and will retain their
positions for the next 12 months.

Trash and Treasure at The Shed - Thanks to the families who dropped off their pre-loved goods to the shed on
the weekend. There was a great response which means we have a lot of goods to sell at the fete.
Unfortunately we will not be opening the shed again; we can’t fit any more of your generous donations in
but please drop your donations to the hall on Friday 17/3 or Saturday morning 18/3 at setup.

St Jude’s Fete - Our fete will be on SATURDAY 18 MARCH. Please keep your eye out for further information on
the fete page of the newsletter. The fete is a great day and a lovely opportunity to contribute and get to
know all of the fantastic members of our school community.
Nicky Bourke
Community Council Chair
[email protected]
Email Tips—Some correspondence direct from your class teacher to parent’s Hotmail or Gmail account is getting lost or is being reported as
never having arrived. This is occurring to a number of parent’s Hotmail or Gmail accounts, but not to all. If this is occurring to you, please firstly
check your Junk or Spam folder for the missing email. Secondly, you may need to create a filter or a safe sender list in your settings of these email
programs.
Please conduct an internet search using the term: “email whitelist Gmail” or “email whitelist Hotmail” to find instructions on how to create a
filter or a safe sender list. Both Hotmail and Gmail have different ways of creating this list. The domain to add to your filter or safe sender list is
cg.catholic.edu.au or @cg.catholic.edu.au
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St Jude’s Primary School Newsletter
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St Jude’s Primary School Newsletter
Are you interested in learning guitar?
There are now positions available for Individual and Group
(pending adequate numbers) Guitar Tuition at St Jude's.
If you're ready to kickstart the year with a young and
experienced teacher, look no further.
Lessons are available for an immediate start to students
from Year 3 to 6 in the following lesson types:
- Individual sessions for beginner and continuing students
- Group sessions for beginners of up to 3 students
All lessons are 30 minutes in length.
Please contact our guitar teacher Victor on [email protected] for more information.
SENATOR THE HON SIMON BIRMINGHAM
Minister for Education and Training
Senator for South Australia
MEDIA RELEASE
29 January 2017
Literacy and numeracy check for all Aussie schools under the Turnbull Government’s quality reforms
The Turnbull Government has announced an expert group of principals, teachers, speech specialists, academics and
researchers will progress the staged implementation of a nation-wide phonics assessment and the development of a
numeracy check.
Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said the short assessments of year 1 student’s literacy and
numeracy skills are backed by evidence and will provide early identification of those students who are behind so they
can be targeted with interventions before the achievement gap grows.
Minister Birmingham said following three significant national and international reports in 2016 that showed Australia’s
education performance at best plateauing and at worst declining and the gap between our brightest and struggling
students widening, this reform was deliberately targeted at those students who start school “behind the pack”.
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St Jude’s Primary School Newsletter